India and Uzbekistan Strengthen Ties with Strategic Partnership and Trade Goals
In a significant development, India and Uzbekistan have elevated their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership during discussions held in Tashkent between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. This partnership aims for a mutual trade target of $5 billion annually and includes plans for long-term uranium supplies from Uzbekistan to India.
Prime Minister Modi revealed that India will secure an ongoing supply of uranium from Uzbekistan, a key player in the regional uranium market. To enhance cooperation under this strengthened partnership, both countries agreed to establish a foreign minister-level coordination council.
The talks covered various areas including defense, trade and investment, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, agriculture, and health. Following these discussions, 11 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed, covering topics such as culture, education, mining, tourism, and the restoration of historical Buddhist sites.
Emphasizing the importance of combating terrorism and extremist activities, PM Modi reiterated that a robust India-Uzbekistan partnership would serve as a powerful force for peace and progress in Central Asia. Both leaders expressed their commitment to enhancing defense collaboration, which includes regular exchanges and joint activities aimed at tackling shared security challenges.
PM Modi highlighted the mutual trust that exists between India and Uzbekistan, stating that close defense cooperation reflects this bond. He outlined an ambitious plan to achieve their trade target by systematically improving market access, connectivity, and banking systems.
Additionally, Modi pointed out the potential for future-ready collaboration in sectors like infrastructure, artificial intelligence, clean energy, nuclear energy, and critical minerals, underscoring Uzbekistan’s significance to India’s engagement in Central Asia.
Despite being one of Uzbekistan’s top ten trading partners, India’s current trade with Uzbekistan stands at $1.32 billion, which both sides agree is below the potential. During their meeting, they pledged to broaden the range of goods traded and remove barriers to increase bilateral trade. They also agreed to form a joint working group to tackle non-tariff and investment issues.
In a gesture of goodwill, President Mirziyoyev awarded PM Modi Uzbekistan’s highest honor for a foreign leader, signifying India’s responsibility to work alongside Uzbekistan as partners in the Global South for the improvement of global humanity.
